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Ramones: Joey Ramone (vocals); Johnny Ramone (guitar); Dee Dee Ramone (bass); Marky Ramone (drums). Producers: Tommy Erdelyi, Ed Stasium, David A. Stewart. Recorded at Media Sound, New York, New York. All tracks have been digitally remastered.
With TOO TOUGH the Ramones take on the '80s, and the '80s go down with a second round TKO. After a few fallow years and some substandard albums (by the band's standards anyway), they came rushing back into the ring with a fresh sense of purpose. The addition of new drummer Ritchie Ramone and the return of long-lost brother Tommy (who sat in as producer along with original engineer Ed Stasium) doubtlessly added some fuel to the fire, creating this punchy, reved-up, and highly worthy addition to the Ramones' catalogue. TOO TOUGH finds the Ramones expanding their musical palette further than usual, adding crunchy metal riffs to the title song and "I'm Not Afraid of Life," while "Howling at the Moon (Sha-La-La)" adds new wave keyboards courtesy of the Eurythmics' Dave Stewart. The adventurous Dee Dee takes center stage for two hardcore songs, "Endless Vacation" and the manic "Wart Hog," giving Joey a brotherly run for his money. The best example of a Ramones formula song, "Durango 95," was destined to become the band's concert intro song. TOO TOUGH is proof positive that the words "punk" and "longevity" can go together in the same sentence.
Expanded & remastered reissue of 1984 album. With original drummer Tommy Erdelyi producing, the band revisits their punk roots. Features the original 13-track album plus the UK single, 'Street Fighting Man', 'Smash You' & ten more previously unreleased bonus tracks, 'Howling At The Moon (Sha-La-La)' (demo), 'Planet Earth 1988' (Dee Dee vocal version), 'Daytime Dilemma (Dangers Of Love)' (demo), 'Endless Vacation' (demo), 'Danger Zone' (Dee Dee vocal version), 'Out Of Here', 'Mama's Boy' (demo), 'I'm Not An Answer', 'Too Tough To Die' (Dee Dee vocal version) & 'No Go' (demo). Notes, cduniverse.
1. Mama's Boy
2. I'm Not Afraid of Life
3. Too Tough to Die
4. Durango 95
5. Wart Hog
6. Danger Zone
7. Chasing the Night
8. Howling at the Moon (Sha-La-La)
9. Daytime Dilemma (Dangers of Love)
10. Planet Earth 1988
11. Humankind
12. Endless Vacation
13. No Go
bonus tracks
14. Street Fighting Man
15. Smash You
16. Howling At The Moon (Sha-La-La) - (previously unreleased, demo)
17. Planet Earth 1988 - (previously unreleased, Dee Dee vocal version)
18. Daytime Dilemma (Dangers Of Love) - (previously unreleased, demo)
19. Endless Vacation - (previously unreleased, demo)
20. Danger Zone - (previously unreleased, demo)
21. Out Of Here - (previously unreleased)
22. I'm Not An Answer
23. Mama's Boy - (previously unreleased, demo)
24. Too Tough To Die - (previously unreleased, Dee Dee vocal version)
25. No Go - (previously unreleased, demo)